Thank you, Glenn, for letting us all know.
This is crushing news. I had been corresponding with Louis via e-mail as recently as a couple of weeks ago over a Ninotchka insert he offered at eBay (his eBay handle was "cinemapg"). He was very active at eBay, selling more than 1,300 items over the past seven years and never had a strike against him. He was a proud man and I never knew he was chronically ill. Unlike the late Bill Rea, a fine dealer who knew he was ill, I think Louis always planned to keep going. The idea of retiring was an anathema to him.
Louis lived "up the coast," but I never met him in person. His calls and e-mails had a stately, gentlemanly, almost regal quality to 'em. You'd never know he was 80, he was always sharp as a tack. He invited me (and many others, he was that gracious) to visit his collection at his home in upscale Pacific Palisades and like an idiot, I never took him up on it. I envy those who did. His material was first rate, I purchased Audrey Hepburn material from him and he had much of his collection backed by John Davis' crew at Poster Mountain here in Southern CA.
The irony is Dr. Leithold was best known for his contributions to mathematics. Yet to collectors -- this was a "back story," a footnote that many in our hobby were unaware. His students obviously loved him. But his passion for movie paper was undeniable. I feel on the verge of tears while writing this about a man I knew but never met face-to-face.
Does collecting still matter? Yes. Anything we do during our short time on earth, whether it's traveling the world -- or surrounding ourselves with just plain old "stuff" that makes us smile -- is a life without regret. Those he leaves behind feel sadness, but Louis is obviously well beyond that today. His legacy is such that he will never be forgotten.
P.S. -- My pals know I'm a born news documentor. A formatted version of the Los Angeles Times obituary Glenn sent (which includes a wonderful color picture of Louis) -- as well as a shorter story crossing the Associated Press wires today -- can be found by clicking the link below...
http://members.cox.net/davidkusumoto/louis-leithold-la-times-05-08-05.doc
-koose.
----Original Message Follows----
From: Glenn Taranto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: Glenn Taranto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: Long Time Collector - Louis Leithold Date: Sun, 8 May 2005 06:26:09 -0700
I haven't seen any posts on MOPO about long time collector Louis Leithold's passing.
I just wanted to say that he was a real nice guy who really, really loved posters.
He had quite a collection and was kind enough to show me his walls. Of which there were plenty with a plethora of posters. It was an amazing site to behold.
All genres and sizes. He was especially proud of the beauty they offered.
He was a true gent as far as I could tell and will be sorely missed.
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